A rare and highly collectible Edward Massey “Frictionless Propeller” Mechanical-End Harpoon Log, complete with its original fitted wooden box and trade instruction label in perfect condition. Manufactured in London, these precision instruments were used aboard merchant and naval vessels to measure a ship’s speed and distance travelled by towing the propeller astern on a line.

This beautiful example retains its attractive bronze patina, four-fin propeller, porcelain register dial, brass adjustment indicators, and original towing eye. The original presentation box, with its illustrated instructions, is an uncommon survival and greatly enhances its desirability.

Edward Massey was one of the leading makers of nautical instruments in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, supplying ships worldwide. Complete boxed examples are increasingly difficult to find, making this an outstanding acquisition for collectors of maritime antiques, yacht clubs, museums, or anyone seeking an exceptional display piece from the golden age of navigation.